Temperature-controlled divergent synthesis of 4-alkoxy- or 4-alkenyl-chromanes via inverse electron-demand cycloaddition with in situ generated ortho-quinone methides

The temperature-controlled divergent synthesis of 4-alkoxy- or 4-alkenyl-chromanes via inverse electron-demand cycloaddition with in situ generated ortho-quinone methides under identical reaction conditions except for thermal condition has been developed. At room temperature, the reaction generated 4-methoxychromanes, whereas the reaction performed at room temperature to 100 °C gave 4-alkenylchromanes. Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid was efficiently suitable in the reaction to give the 4-substituted chromanes. This divergent synthetic strategy exhibits a new method giving carbon–carbon or carbon–oxygen bond by controlling the reaction temperature.